I had the opportunity to visit Austin Texas recently where I was able to chow down on one of my favorite foods, Texas BBQ. My favorite is good smoked beef brisket.

Beef brisket is a cut from the breast section just beneath the first five ribs, behind the foreshank. It is best slow cooked to melt the fat and break down the tissue to make it tender and moist. A Texas BBQ style will use a dry rub and smoke it for 6-8 hours at a low temperature. Some baste at the end with BBQ sauce, or just have it on the side for dipping.  Some also mop it with a sauce all day long as it cooks.

I love how they do it in Texas. The beef absorbs the smoky flavor and it just melts in your mouth. You don’t even need to add BBQ sauce. If it does need a little something, or a kick, I like a tangy, vinegary and peppery BBQ sauce. Not to mention the side of onions and pickles, too.

Only in Texas, though, did I get to do something that I thought was pretty darn cool. While standing in line at the local BBQ waiting to place my order, I got to choose my beer from an ice water trough of beer (and soda). They had bottle openers along the line encouraging you to drink while waiting. I love it! Now this was a line I didn’t mind waiting in.

I chose a Shiner Bock, a brew from a long standing brewery in Shiner Texas (1909). It looked to be a good choice and I can’t remember if I ever had it. It was a nice beer even if a bit weak for my tastes. It certainly hit the spot.  I grabbed a second one on my second pass for more brisket.